Doug Burgess

Doug Burgess

In 1960-1961-1962?? CHAT TV ran a Saturday afternoon show called Sock Hop hosted by Doug Burgess who was a drummer. Teens would come to the studio in Redcliff to dance and participate in contests and this photo is of Doug Burgess “getting down” twisting with the dancers. To his right is Teen Queen and co host Terry Lynne Dunphy. The other dancers are unknown. After leaving broadcasting Doug went on to own the Dairy queen franchise in Medicine Hat.

Doug Burgess

Doug Burgess and Teen Queen Terry Lynne Dunphy as hosts of Saturday afternoon Sock Hop CHAT TV show about 1961?? Teens came to the studio to dance to the latest records as well as to listen to live bands that could use this vehicle to build a following and promote personal appearances in the area.

Doug Burgess

This is a great shot of drummer Doug Burgess circa 1958 ??. Doug later, in 1961-62??, was the popular host of Sock Hop every Saturday afternoon on CHAT TV and played drums with various groups around the city.

Doug Burgess

A shot of some of the players that were not into country or rock n’ roll music, playing for people who were not into country or rock n’ roll music circa 1960??. Left to right…Doug Burgess(drums)….Jim Burgess (trumpet)..Stan Wieler(sax)..Pete Bonesky (bass)..Ralph Palmer ( trombone). ( Thanks to Wayne Spackman for cleaning up this great photo).

Doug Burgess

Doug Burgess (drums) Alex Shand (piano) Stan Weiler (sax)….playing somewhere about 1959. These three musicians were a very integral part of the Medicine Hat “adult” music scene for many years in the 50s and 60s. Venues like the new Elks Club were not into the dominant country music scene and so presented an outlet for a more traditional quazy big band style of music, whatever that really means. Alex Shand was also very active in the musical theatre scene as well as choral singing when he established the Shandells choir in 1965, performing several concerts a year in addition to running his own dance band. ( See Alex Shand)

Orv Kope

A great photo of Orv Kope who played trumpet and was perhaps better known as the general manager of CHAT radio for many years. He worked with Doug Burgess, Stan Weiler and Alex Shand and , on any given night, the band could be called the Doug Burgess Quartet or the Alex Shand Quartet or the Orv Kope Quartet….all the same players.

Stan Weiler

A very cool promo shot of sax player Stan Weiler ?? ( someone please confirm that!!) who was the go to sax player for Doug Burgess, Alex Shand and anyone else that needed a sax player. Stan was a CHAT radio and TV personality and was very active in the 1950s and 60s music scene in Medicine Hat.